Austria's University of Leoben and the French Institute of Petroleum, also known as IFP, will conduct technological studies at Gachsaran Oilfield, according to officials at the Petroleum University of Technology.
The state-run PUT and two foreign academic enterprises have signed two memoranda of understanding, ISNA reported.
Some of the Iranian universities and scientific institutes have signed contracts on implementing technological studies of nine oil reservoirs with the National Petroleum Company, which allow for scientific collaboration with foreign partners.
"In the near future, we will finalize signing a contract with the Austrian university on drilling operations in Gachsaran Oilfield," PUT's President Abdolnabi Hashemi said.
University of Leoben is one of the three technical universities of Austria, offering educational and research courses in the fields of mining, metallurgy and material sciences.
Stressing close collaboration between the two universities, Hashemi said Gerhard Thonhauser, head of the Petroleum Engineering Faculty of Leoben University, has recently been to Iran for a week and held educational workshops for Iranian university students.
Hashemi referred to the signing of an MoU with the French scientific partner, saying he visited the IFP school two months ago. During the visit, an agreement on conducting Gachsaran Oilfield's technological studies was reached with IFP officials.
IFP is a graduate engineering school located in Rueil-Malmaison, France. Founded in 1954, IFP is part of the IFP Energies Nouvelles, a French public-sector research and training center.
Invited by the Institute for International Energy Studies, affiliated to the Iranian Oil Ministry, senior IFP officials visited the capital in mid-November. The two sides agreed on the main grounds of cooperation and the terms under which the educational institute will restart operation in the Persian Gulf country.
Hashemi noted that a joint meeting with the foreign sides, plus the National South Oilfields Company, will be held within a month.
Devising plans and measures for implementing studies in Gachsaran will be discussed in the joint session.
